Chucks and use in processing toroidal structures

ABSTRACT

A chuck and a chuck system, and a method for processing a toroidal structure such as a tire carcass. The carcass includes an internal circumference and tapered ends. The chuck system comprises a plurality of chucks wherein each chuck includes a circumferential or substantially circumferential external surface and a plurality of friction reducing members positioned on the external surface. The friction reducing members are positioned to engage the internal circumference of the toroidal structure such as a tire. The method of processing a tire carcass includes positioning the tire carcass on fixed diameter chucks having friction reducing members on the external surface.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to chucks that may be used in theprocessing of toroidal structures. In another embodiment, the presentdisclosure relates to improved chucks, that may be used in the formationof a green tire wherein the chucks facilitate the placement of a tirecarcass on the chucks and the removal of the resultant green tire fromthe chucks.

BACKGROUND

The tire industry is one of the leading industries in the world. Assuch, it stands to reason that the tire making process can be a highlysophisticated process in which much of the assembly process isautomated. Several prior art attempts have been made to improve theproduction of tires and improve the individual steps and processesinvolved therein.

Generally, the tire making process involves the formation of a carcass,which can also be referred to as a casing, which is the foundation forthe tread, belts, bead, and sidewalls of the finished tire. The carcassis processed and these other items are added until the formation of agreen tire is complete. The green tire is then vulcanized, or cured, tosolidify and bond the various components of the tire resulting in afinished tire product.

The step that is of interest in the current disclosure is thetransformation from the carcass stage to the green tire stage. This mayinvolve rotating the carcass on chucks and applying various materials,such as the tread, to the carcass. During this process, normally theinternal portion of the carcass is pressurized to maintain the generallycylindrical shape of the carcass during the application of the tread,bead, belt and other features to the carcass. Additionally, the carcassmay have a snug fit around the chucks. As such, the use of prior artchucks may result in some degree of difficulty in placing the carcass onthe chucks and removing the carcass from the chucks.

Prior attempts to alleviate these difficulties include the developmentof chucks that have expandable and retractable diameters. These chucksinclude an overall diameter that can collapse inside the internalcircumference of the carcass during placement and removal of the carcassand expand out to engage the internal diameter of the carcass during themanufacturing process.

Other attempts to address these difficulties have included the use oflubrication around the surfaces of the chucks. The lubrication istypically applied in a liberal manner to ease the positioning andremoval of the carcass on the chucks. This use of lubrication may resultin an untidy work area and potentially undue wear and tear on theprocessing equipment and work stations around the processing equipment.

Other prior art attempts to address these difficulties have includedchuck systems having an internal bladder positioned on the processingmachine to expand and engage the carcass once the carcass is positionedon the processing machine. This normally requires complicated machineryand failures may be experienced due to the additional elements in theprocessing machine and the potential failure of the bladders themselvesin their expansion and retraction process.

What is needed then is a single chuck, or a chuck system having two ormore chucks, that may be used in the processing of toroidal structuressuch as tire that facilitates the placement of the toroidal structure onthe chuck and the removal of the toroidal structure from the chuck(s).Typically, this system requires minimal to no lubrication.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Disclosed is a chuck that is useful for many purposes, such as for theprocessing of a toroidal structure that has an internal circumference.The chuck comprises a circumferential or substantially circumferentialexternal surface, and a plurality of friction reducing members spacedaround the external surface that engages the internal circumference ofthe toroidal structure, such as a tire carcass.

Also disclosed herein is a chuck system that comprises a plurality ofchucks wherein each chuck includes a circumferential or substantiallycircumferential external surface having a plurality of friction reducingmembers positioned on the external surface.

In the instance where the toroidal structure that may be processed onthe chuck or chuck system is a tire carcass, the chuck or chucks mayhave a fixed diameter and a tapered section positioned adjacent to theexternal surface. This is a result of the tire carcass having aninternal circumference and tapered ends.

A circumferentially tapered section can extend from the external surfacesuch that the sloped surface of the tapered section is positioned in adirection substantially skew to the axis. A shoulder can be positionedbetween the external surface and a tapered section such that the taperedsection decreases in diameter as the tapered section extends from theexternal surface. The tapered section can be shaped to engage thetapered ends of the toroidal structure to form a gaseous seal within thetoroidal structure.

Also disclosed is a chuck system for the processing of a tire carcass.The chuck system comprises at least two, or more chucks, wherein eachchuck can include a circumferential or substantially circumferentialexternal surface having a fixed diameter and a plurality of frictionreducing members positioned on the external surface that engage theinternal circumference of the tire carcass. The axes of the chucks canbe substantially aligned. A tapered section can be positioned adjacentto the external surface of each chuck. The tapered sections can bepointed in opposing directions and shaped to engage the tapered ends ofthe tire carcass and form a gaseous seal.

Also disclosed is a method of processing a tire carcass wherein themethod includes positioning the tire carcass on fixed diameter chuckshaving a plurality of friction reducing members on the external surface,extending the chucks axially within the tire carcass, forming a gaseousseal between the chucks and a tire carcass, retracting the chucksaxially within the tire carcass, and removing the tire carcass from thechucks.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art uponreading the following disclosure when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chucks system including chucks made inaccordance with the current disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a back view of a chuck made in accordance with the currentdisclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a chuck made in accordance with the currentdisclosure.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a chucks system made in accordance with thecurrent disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a side view similar to FIG. 4. FIG. 5 shows separation ofchucks with respect to one another.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of a carcass positioned on chucks madein accordance with the current disclosure before the chucks areseparated within the carcass.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 5. FIG. 7 shows anexample of the chucks separated and engaging the carcass to form agaseous seal therebetween.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring generally now to FIGS. 1-7, a chucks system is shown andgenerally designated by the number 10. The chucks system 10 can beutilized in normal ambient conditions found in most tire manufacturingfacilities and is used in the processing of a tire carcass 12 whereinthe tire carcass 12 includes an internal circumference 14 and taperedends 16 and 18.

The chucks system 10 includes first and second chucks 20 and 22. Eachchuck 20 and 22 includes an axis 24 and 26, and comprises asubstantially circumferential surface 28 and 30 wherein eachcircumferential surface 28 and 30 has a fixed diameter 32 and 34,respectively.

The chucks 20 and 22 can be made of a suitable material such as steel,aluminum, plastic, nylon, and other similar materials known in the art.The chucks 20 and 22 can be machined to accept the friction reducingmembers 36, which can be generally referred to as rolling devices 36,wherein these devices 36 are positioned along the external surfaces 28and 30 on the outer diameters 32 and 34. The positioning of the devices36 facilitate engagement of the devices 36 to the internal circumference14, or internal surface 14, of the tire carcass 12.

A plurality of friction reducing members 36 can be positioned on theexternal surfaces 28 and 30 to engage the internal circumference 14 ofthe tire carcass 12. Each chuck 20 and 22 can further include a taperedsection 38 and 40, respectively, where each tapered section 38 and 40can be positioned adjacent to the external surface 28 or 30,respectively. The axes 24 and 26 are preferably aligned while thetapered sections 38 and 40 are preferably pointed in opposing directionsand are shaped to engage the tapered ends 16 and 18 of the tire carcass12. The tapered section 38 and 40 are preferably pointed in opposingdirections and are shaped to engage the tapered ends 16 and 18 of thetire carcass 12. The tapered sections 38 and 40 can be described asextending from the external surfaces 28 or 30 such that the slopedsurface of the tapered sections 38 and 40 are positioned in a directionsubstantially askew to the axis 24 or 26.

The engagement between the tapered sections 38 and 40 and the taperedends 16 and 18 forms a gaseous seal such that a volume of gas can besupplied internally to the tire carcass 12. The gaseous seal can also bedescribed as a fluid seal wherein the seal is substantial enough toallow the introduction of gases within the internal body 13 of the tirecarcass 12, which facilitates the circumferential shape of the tirecarcass 12 during the processing of the tire carcass 12, as is known inthe art.

The friction reducing members 26, which can be barrel shaped rollers,transfer balls, omni style rollers, ball bearings, spring loaded balls,and other friction reducing members known in the art, are positioned toallow the tire carcass 12 to traverse the external surfaces 28 and 30 ina direction substantially parallel to the axes 24 and 26. These frictionreducing members 36 facilitate the movement, such as sliding, of thetire carcass 12 over the chucks 20 or 22. The use of the frictionreducing members 36 also facilitates a reduction in the amount oflubrication that may be used in the chucks system 10.

For example, in a first embodiment, the first and second chucks 20 and22 include reduced lubrication. In a second embodiment, the first andsecond chucks 20 and 22 include lubrication on or in the frictionreducing members 36. In a third embodiment, the first and second chucks20 and 22 do not include lubrication, and are regarded asnon-lubricated. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that thisnon-lubrication does not necessarily exclude lubrication between thechucks and axes or supports upon which the chucks 20 and 22 sit and/orare rotated, as is conventionally used and known in the art. Thecontemplated reduction in lubrication can be from the reduction inlubrication that is conventionally applied to the chucks for frictionreduction between the inner surface of the tire carcass and the chuckused for positioning of the tire carcass in relation to prior artchucks.

In one embodiment, the external surfaces 28 and 30 are a fixed distancefrom the axis 24 and 26. The external surfaces 28 and 30 can also beshaped to coincide with the shape of the internal circumference 14 ofthe tire carcass 12.

Each tapered section 38 and 40 can further include a second diameter 42and a third diameter 44. The second diameters 42 can be positionedadjacent to the external surfaces 28 and 30 while the third diameter 44can be distal from the external surfaces 28 and 30. In these embodimentsthe second diameter 42 is larger than the third diameter 44 tofacilitate the overall tapered shape of the tapered sections 38 and 40.Additionally, the external surface diameters 32 and 34 can be largerthan the second diameter 42. This facilitates the presence of a shoulder46 between the external surfaces 28 and 30 and the tapered sections 38and 40 respectively.

Each chuck 20 and 22 can further include a first annular aperture 48positioned opposite the tapered sections 38 or 40 and a second annularaperture 50 positioned between the axis 24 or 26 and the first annularaperture 48. A third annular aperture 52 can also be positioned betweenthe tapered section 38 or 40 and the axis 24 or 26. These annularapertures assist the operation of the chuck system by facilitating acloser proximity between the chucks when the chuck system is in acollapsed position. This close proximity assists in the placement andremoval of the carcass on the chucks. Additionally, the annularapertures reduce the amount of material used in the formation of thechucks, thereby reducing the production cost of the chuck system.

The friction reducing members 36, in one embodiment, extend from theexternal surfaces 28 or 30 in a direction that is substantiallyperpendicular to the axis 24 or 26. Each of the friction reducingmembers 36 can be spaced on the external surface 28 or 30 in a positionsuch that the friction reducing members 36 are substantially equidistantfrom other friction reducing members 36.

The current chuck system 10 and the chucks 20 and 22, that have thefriction reducing members 36, achieve several benefits. For example,there is a reduction in the cost of material, the use of lubricantreduced or eliminated, and the reduction or elimination of severaltraditional steps in the tire manufacturing process improvesproductivity.

A method of processing a tire carcass is also taught. The methodincludes positioning a tire carcass on fixed diameter chucks having aplurality of friction reducing members on the surface thereof,separating the chucks axially within the tire carcass, forming a gaseousseal between the chucks and tire carcass, retracting the chucks axiallywithin the tire carcass, and removing the tire carcass from the chucks.This method eliminates or reduces several traditional steps in the tiremanufacturing process, improves productivity, and thus reducesmanufacture time and cost in the tire manufacturing process.

The invention has been described with reference to various specific andillustrative embodiments and techniques. However, one skilled in the artwill recognize that many variations and modifications may be made whileremaining within the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A chuck comprising: a circumferential or substantiallycircumferential external surface; and a plurality of friction reducingmembers spaced around the external surface.
 2. The chuck of claim 1,further comprising a circumferentially tapered section extending fromthe external surface in a direction substantially skew to an axis of thechuck.
 3. The chuck of claim 2, further including a shoulder between theexternal surface and the tapered section.
 4. The chuck of claim 3,wherein the tapered section decreases in diameter as the tapered sectionextends from the external surface.
 5. The chuck of claim 2, wherein thetapered section is shaped to engage tapered ends of a toroidal structureto form a gaseous seal within the toroidal structure.
 6. The chuck ofclaim 1, wherein the chuck is non-lubricated.
 7. The chuck of claim 1,further comprising lubrication positioned on the friction reducingmembers.
 8. The chuck of claim 1, wherein each friction reducing memberis spaced on the external surface equidistantly from other frictionreducing members.
 9. The chuck of claim 1, wherein the friction reducingmembers are positioned to allow the toroidal structure to traverse theexternal surface in a direction substantially parallel to the axis. 10.The chuck of claim 1, wherein the friction reducing members extend fromthe external surface substantially perpendicular to the axis.
 11. Thechuck of claim 1, wherein the friction reducing members are selectedfrom the group consisting of barrel shaped rollers, transfer balls, omnistyle rollers, ball bearings, spring loaded balls, and combinationsthereof.
 12. The chuck of claim 1, further comprising means for beingmounted on any apparatus wherein the chuck is utilized.
 13. The chuck ofclaim 2, wherein the circumferential or substantially circumferentialexternal surface has a fixed diameter and the tapered section ispositioned adjacent to the external surface.
 14. The chuck of claim 13,wherein the tapered section comprises a second diameter adjacent theexternal surface and a third diameter distal from the external surface;and the second diameter is larger than the third diameter.
 15. The chuckof claim 14, wherein the external surface diameter is larger than thesecond diameter.
 16. The chuck of claim 13, wherein the external surfaceis a fixed distance from an axis of the chuck.
 17. The chuck of claim12, further comprising: a first annular aperture positioned opposite thetapered section; a second annular aperture positioned between an axis ofthe chuck and the first annular aperture; and a third annular aperturepositioned between the tapered section and an axis.
 18. A method forprocessing a toroidal structure having an internal circumferencecomprising positioning the toroidal structure on the chuck of claim 1,processing the toroidal structure, and removing the processed toroidalstructure from the chuck of claim
 1. 19. The method of claim 18, whereinthe toroidal structure is selected from a tire carcass and a tire, andwherein the chuck of claim 1 has an external surface that has a fixeddiameter that is shaped to coincide with the shape of the internalcircumference of the tire carcass and the tire, and wherein the chuckfurther comprises a tapered section that is positioned adjacent to theexternal surface.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the tire carcassand the tire comprises tapered ends, and wherein the tapered section isshaped to engage the tapered ends of the tire carcass and tire to form agaseous seal.
 21. The method of claim 18, wherein the toroidal structureis a tire carcass, the tire carcass is positioned on at least two ormore, chucks, and the processing of the tire carcass comprises addingtread to the tire carcass.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein theprocessing of the tire carcass further comprises separating the at leasttwo or more chucks axially within the tire carcass and forming a gaseousseal between the chucks and the tire carcass.
 23. The method of claim22, further comprising retracting the chucks axially within the tirecarcass and removing the tire carcass from the chucks.
 24. A chucksystem comprising at least two or more chucks of claim
 1. 25. The chuckssystem of claim 24, wherein the chucks are aligned, and wherein thechucks have tapered sections that are pointed in opposing directions areshaped to engage the tapered ends of the toroidal structure and form agaseous seal.
 26. The chucks system of claim 24, wherein the frictionreducing members are positioned to allow a tire carcass to traverse theexternal surfaces in a direction substantially parallel to the axes ofthe chucks.
 27. The chucks system of claim 24, wherein the externalsurfaces and the tapered sections of the chucks are non-lubricated. 28.A method for processing a toroidal structure having an internalcircumference comprising positioning the toroidal structure on thechucks system of claim 24, processing the toroidal structure, andremoving the processed toroidal structure from the chucks system ofclaim 24.